Whether it is environmental standards, financial crisis, facilities issues or athletes dropping out with fears over the Zika virus…little has gone right in the lead up to what should be a celebration for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.
Now, just six weeks away from the start of the 2016 Olympic games, news that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) suspending the drug testing facility in Rio has broke too. According to the New York Times report, WADA has suspended the lab in Rio for “non-conformity” to international standards.
It perhaps shouldn’t be surprising though, as this is the same lab that was also suspended in 2013 ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup played throughout Brazil. That suspension lasted until this past year, in large part because the standards of the facility in which testing was occurring was too low. It took some $90 million and just over two years, but the facility was back in the good graces of WADA recently.
It appears now that efforts to modernize the facility itself weren’t enough, as the testing and operating procedures still weren’t up to snuff.
So what now? How will the Olympics test athletes, especially if an appeal isn’t heard or is shot down after being heard in a few short weeks?
“In the meantime, WADA will work closely with the Rio Laboratory to resolve the identified issue. The Agency will ensure that, for the time being, samples that would have been intended for the Laboratory, will be transported securely, promptly and with a demonstrable chain of custody to another WADA-accredited laboratory worldwide.
This will ensure that there are no gaps in the anti-doping sample analysis procedures; and that, the integrity of the samples is fully maintained. Athletes can have confidence that the suspension will only be lifted by WADA when the Laboratory is operating optimally; and that, the best solution will be put in place to ensure that sample analysis for the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games is robust.”
These Olympic games have become mired in controversy over doping allegations even before the games have gotten started. Most notably, the ban on all Russian Track & Field athletes from competing at these games amidst allegations of widespread and controlled doping of athletes. That ban came on the heels of the IAAF ban back in late 2015. Some have even called for all Russian athletes to be banned, as rumors and allegations of doping within Russia continue to swirl.
One can only wonder what other scandal can possibly hit before the Rio Olympic games, and then wonder if it’s only a matter of time before it breaks.
